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Jody Watley, singer/songwriter/producer/businesswoman, is one of the architects of 21st century pop. From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1987’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim) to her vision-forward marriage of high fashion, street fashion and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre, Ms. Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook.
Winner of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, Jody Watley’s entire career has been about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes like Grace Jones, David Bowie, Diana Ross and jazz great Nancy Wilson – iconoclasts who were always ten steps ahead of the pack. The Chicago native’s eclectic repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word – is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk.
Her self-titled 1987 solo debut – a showcase for her vocal chops and songwriting skills – was a beats & grooves tribute to her club kid roots, from the underground spots she frequented as a teenager to her stardom (while still a teen) as one of the most popular dancers in the history of iconic TV show “Soul Train.” It yielded the chart topping hits “Looking for a New Love” (which launched the Jody-penned phrase “Hasta la vista” into popular vernacular, becoming so huge that Arnold Schwarzenegger jacked it for his signature line in the movie The Terminator), “Don’t You Want Me,” “Most of All,” “Some Kind of Lover” and “Still a Thrill,” whose video was the first (and as yet unmatched) time a pop star flexed their skills at waaking, the underground Los Angeles dance that is a sibling to both breakdancing and voguing.
1989’s Larger Than Life, her blockbuster sophomore album, yielded the hits “Real Love” (whose influential music video – nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards – was her second collaboration with acclaimed film director David Fincher, the first being her sleek video for “Most of All”), “Friends,” and the sultry ballad “Everything.” They were all huge hits.
Like many artists who top the charts, Ms. Watley soon found herself stymied by the limited vision of her label, who wanted to shoehorn her into formula. The albums Affairs of the Heart (1991) and Intimacy (1993) displayed her deepening songwriting skills and singing prowess, as well as her assured experimentation with layered musical textures, but label support was missing in action. The powerful, beat-driven spoken-word track “When a Man Loves a Woman” from Affairs sparked controversy for addressing AIDS and domestic violence long before they were topics of national conversation, and her skittish label turned its back on the track and album. Though Ms. Watley’s artistry continued to deepen and grow, she was hamstrung by her label’s lack of support and their adherence to the same narrow definitions of success that saw her leave iconic R&B group Shalamar at the height of its popularity in 1983. Her own definition of success centered then and now on artistic growth and freedom, not simply replicating whatever was or is hot at the moment.
After breaking from the majors and starting her own label Avitone Recordings in 1995, Ms. Watley began collaborating with a Who’s Who of visionary producers and remixers, many of whom were longtime fans and jumped at the chance to work with her: 4 Hero, King Britt, Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez & Little Louie Vega, Mark de Clive Lowe, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Ron Trent, Moto Blanco, and Alex Di Ciò. Thanks to her non-stop touring, her global fan base remains as fervent as ever and they’ve made chart and club hits of Ms. Watley’s indie albums – Affection (1995), Flower (1998), The Saturday Night Experience (1999), Midnight Lounge (2001), and The Makeover (2006) – and her 2014 EP Paradise.
For the past five years, the ever multi-tasking Ms. Watley has focused on both her thriving solo career and the group project “Jody Watley featuring SRL.” Much like Prince had The Revolution, NPG, and Third Eye Girl (among many other projects and aliases) as extensions or branches of his music and creativity, Jody Watley feat. SRL allows Ms. Watley another outlet for her artistic expression. SRL members Rosero McCoy and Nate Allen Smith – gifted singers, dancers, and choreographers in their own right – bring their own cool style and vibe to Ms. Watley’s trademark high-energy, all-love live performances, and the trio’s critically acclaimed concerts draw SRO crowds around the world. With musical influences that include Kaytranada, Anderson Paak, and Little Dragon, they’ve released several chart-topping hit singles in Europe, including the Alex Di Ciò remix of “The Mood.” Their forthcoming album will be a seamless mix of dance grooves, funky beats, deep House, R&B, trap, rock, and ambient ballads accented with guitar flourishes.
Also in the works is Jody Watley: The Jazzy Sessions, a longtime dream project finally come to fruition. Fans were given a taste of what to expect from that forthcoming EP on the bossa nova tinged cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain,” which shot to the top of the jazz charts within weeks of its release. A lilting, gorgeously melancholy take on the classic tune, the track simmers with tension between the longing of the lyrics and the lush, languid music and arrangement. Though some newer fans were pleasantly surprised that Ms. Watley pulled off a jazz tune, longtime fans saw it as simply the artistic thread being pulled forward from Ms. Watley’s show-stopping cover of Cole Porter’s classic song “After You,” from the landmark AIDS benefit recording project Red Hot & Blue, released in1990.
What links “Waiting” to the rest of Ms. Watley’s far-ranging and impossible to pigeonhole catalogue (which has seen her hit the charts in every decade of her career, from 1977’s Uptown Festival album with Shalamar to 2018’s “Waiting in Vain” single) is the sincerity and honesty from which it springs.
“Everything I’ve ever done has been to be distinctively Jody Watley,” says the pop icon herself, “from my first solo album through right now. Everything that I will ever do always has to be authentic to me, work that I can always be proud of first and foremost. It’s not so much about, ‘Oh, this is going to be popular,’ or ‘Oh, this is going to be a big hit.’ It’s always been so personal to me, everything that I do. And the fans can feel that. They connect with the honesty.”

Written by Jody Watley (Jody Watley Music BMI) and Rodney Lee (Dream Planet Music BMI)

Produced by Jody Watley and Rodney Lee

Additional Remix and Production: Alex Di Cio’

UPC: 193483256238

Genres: Ambient / R&B/Soul / Electronica / Holiday

Label: Avitone Recordings

Jody Watley, singer/songwriter/producer/businesswoman and Best New Artist Grammy winner is one of the architects of 21st century pop. From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1987’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim) to her vision-forward marriage of high fashion, street fashion and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre, Jody Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook.

Since her days as an original member of the group Shalamar, Watley’s entire career is about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes and iconoclasts who were and are always ten steps ahead of the pack. The Chicago native’s eclectic, hits-filled repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word, disco, soul – spans decades and is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk.

2018 was another banner year for Watley ranking as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time; the year produced three diverse hit singles including the jazz makeover of the Bob Marley classic “Waiting In Vain” an American Top 10 Smooth Jazz release.

U.K, radio embraced the music of the new branch of her vast musical tree Jody Watley & SRL (Soul Revolution Love) with two Top 5 UK Soul Chart Singles. (“The Mood” Alex Di Cio’ Mix and the Number 3 The Passion also remixed by Di Cio’).

SRL is Nate Allen Smith and Rosero McCoy along with a squad of dancers and musicians.\

On the heels of the announcement by AGMP concerts that Jody Watley will do her first UK Tour in over two decades in April 2019, up close and personal: 17th Glasgow (Oran Mor), 18th (Manchester Gorilla) and 19th London (Under The Bridge).

Jody Watley closes out 2018 with the lyrically timely holiday release “Like A Holiday” Alex Di Cio’ Remix. Watley describes the single as the soothing feeling of a warm beverage by the fire, and then I’ll be back with more up-tempo burners in 2019 to coincide with the tour.”

Amazing!! Thank you RnB Soul Effect TV for the recognition and thank you Steve Ripley, UK radio , Alex Di Cio’, Tom Estey everyone on our team/squad, those embracing and supporting us and the group / band / collective concept in this era — more to come in 2019.

The Jody Watley “Still A Thrill” Radio Celebration from The Wayne Boucaud Show, UK Black in 3D is now available on Mixcloud as a podcast. Listen again or for the first time!

Wayne did an excellent job on curating a few classics and a host of deep cuts and collaborations beyond the commercial realm with snippets of vintage interviews sharing pearls of wisdom, goals and determination with a desire to always be me and never confined to expectations or narrow vision. You’ll enjoy the entire show..and be reminded that there is still quality music being made – soul, jazz, funk and you can still mix them up into a delicious musical brew with the classics, under the radar gems.

It’s been such a great year of music for me solo (the Top 10 Smooth Jazz ‘Waiting In Vain’ and with SRL (Soul Revolution Love), “The Passion”, “The Mood” Alex Di Cio’ mixes coming with massive UK radio support; and the announcement of my first UK Tour in over 20 years. It means the most to have it be fueled by what’s new while celebrating what’s past.

The vibe of the song has a subtle update with additional drums and guitar by remixed Italy’s Alex Di Cio’ and as a bonus new artwork for the devoted Jody Watley music appreciator and fan arriving at digital December 7, 2018. Think of it as musically warm cocoa in front of a cozy fireplace.

Monday 3rd Dec. 8pm-10pm [UK] K2KRadio.comThe Wayne Boucaud Radio Show,Blackin3D Presents ‘Still A Thrill’ – Celebrating the music of Jody Watley.That’s right, if your a fan you’ll know that this is a long time coming,i’ll be playing the music of the Grammy winning,Style and Music Icon,Miss Jody Watley,again,all of my own personal faves and i hope there yours too.Also,playing music from The Eclectic Sessions,the genre spectrum from around the globe,news and comedy…All happening right here on ‘the coolest show on the planet’.Peace. Wayne. K2KRadio.com London/Worldwide

Stop talking yourself out of going after your goals whatever they may be. There is no such thing as the perfect time. I can’t tell you how many times doors have closed. some I’ve closed myself to new heights creating new ones.. stop waiting for people and perfect times. You are the captain of your ship. Even God and the universe can’t help you if you’re not doing the work.